Slide-latch valve for air-driven tools

ABSTRACT

A latch valve of the slide type is provided in the air storage chamber of an air-operated cylinder and piston tool which requires a percussive or striking action followed by return to a condition prepared for subsequent and rapidly repeated action. In the returned and prepared condition the latch valve captures a charge of compressed air in the storage chamber while exhausting the cylinder so as to permit the preceding return stroke. In the fired condition the latch valve opens the storage chamber directly into the cylinder while closing the exhaust. In one form the latch valve includes a port that opens into a return air reservoir when in the fired condition to charge the same. In another form the latch valve includes a transfer tube that cooperates with said port to exhaust the return air reservoir after each full cycle of operation.

United States Patent [72] Inventor [21 Appl. No. 22] Filed [45] Patented[73] Assignee [54] SLIDE-LATCH VALVE FOR AIR-DRIVEN TOOLS 28 Claims, 12Drawing Figs.

2,457,930 l/l949 Smith .1 227/130 X 2,705,020 3/1955 Frantz 137/625662,792,019 5/1957 Lieser 1 137/62525 X 2,843,092 7/1958 De Groff...137/6256 2,964,023 12/1960 Meulendykm, 137/6258 X 3,200,844 8/1965Jackson 137/6252 3,324,888 6/1967 Henderson l37/625.68 3,434,393 3/1969Cairatti 91/469 X Primary Examiner-Martin P. Schwa-dron AssistantExaminer-lrwin C Cohen A1t0rney-Wi1liam H. Maxwell ABSTRACT: A latchvalve of the slide type is provided in the air storage chamber of anair-operated cylinder and piston tool which requires a percussive orstriking action followed by return to a condition prepared forsubsequent and rapidly repeated action. In the returned and preparedcondition the latch valve captures a charge of compressed air in thestorage chamber while exhausting the cylinder so as to permit thepreceding return stroke. 1n the fired condition the latch valve opensthe storage chamber directly into the cylinder while closing theexhaust. In one form the latch valve includes a port that opens into areturn air reservoir when in the fired condition to charge the same. Inanother form the latch valve includes a transfer tube that cooperateswith said port to exhaust the return air reservoir after each full cycleof operation.

[56] References Cited UN lTED STATES PATENTS 637,487 11/1899 Sellers eta1 137/6252 1,441,759 ll1923 Schwennker.... 91/443 X 1,547,253 7/1925McCarthy 91/470 X 1,584,817 5/1926 Slater 137/625.68 1,825,290 9/1931Stevens l37/625.68 1,845,805 2/1932 Nell 91/461 X EKHNJST PATENTEUVAUBM1911 3,602,103

sum 1 or 4 INVENTOR.

filo/Ana E. Powers BY PATENTED was] I97! SHEET 3 OF FIG. 6,

IIIIIIIIIIII XH UST Fla/4R0 E Pom/5R5 IN VEN TOR.

SLIDE-LATCH VALVE FOR AIR-DRIVEN TOOLS The present invention relatesprimarily to percussive-action tools such as fastener-driving toolswhich strike and/or hammer a fastener into a piece of work by means of asingle blow. Therefore, a complete cycle of operation requirespreparation of the tools for adequate subsequent functioning,

' followed by said functioning, and consummated by the function ofreturn to a prepared condition for completing the said cycle.l-Ieretofore, tools of the type under consideration have employed airstorage chambers for supplying the immediate and high demand for theinstant supply of air under pressure and such as to have an explosiveaction when released. However, the valve design in the prior art toolshas been such as to restrict the flow of air into the drive cylinder;reference being made to the poppet-type valves that lift off the top endof the cylinders, wherein there is inherently a gradual separation fromthe valve seat resulting in a detainment of the percussive actiondesired. Therefore, it'is an object of this invention to provide theslide-type latch valve hereinafter disclosed and which instantaneouslymoves to a fully open position and directly discharges compressed airfrom said chamber and into said cylinder and without turning and/orredirecting said air. Consequently, explosive action of the stored airunder pressure is instantly effective at the beginning of the workstroke of the tool to accelerate the piston and in this instance thedriver blade attached thereto.

Latch valves for tools of the type under consideration are most oftenservo operated by means of a trigger valve that either bleeds orsupplies air for opening the latch valve, and in either case there isdetainment in the valve action due to inertia of parts and due to thedistance of travel required in order to attain full opening of the latchvalve. In other words, instantaneously full-opening latch valvesdirectly communicating the air storage reservoir and tool actuationcylinder are unavailable in the prior art, it being an object of thisinvention to provide such a valve that is operable through a triggervalve and preferably under positive pressure application that ensures aquick instantaneously opening to a full communication condition.

Percussive-type tools of the type under consideration include air returnmeans that are charged during the work stroke of the tool and whichoperate independently of the drive function to return the piston anddriver blade to a prepared condition for the next work cycle. In a sensethese cylinder and piston motors are double-acting, but characterized byoperating upon the drive air pressure after the end of the work strokeis reached by the piston and to thereafter return the same. Such toolshave return air reservoirs that accumulate a portion of the drive airand ported into the cylinder beneath the piston to lift it when theupper end of the cylinder is exhausted, it being a general object ofthis invention to provide a latch valve that positively charges thereturn air reservoir in timed relation to release of the drive air fromthe storage chamber.

In practice, the inclusion of air return means operating uponaccumulated drive air pressure, as generally stated in the precedingparagraph, has had its drawbacks in that a buildup of air pressure inthe return air reservoir is openly ported to act beneath the piston andconsequently imposes a retarding effect which prevents rapid firing ofthe tool. Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide areturn air bleed that is operative at the end of each complete workcycle to virtually eliminate the accumulation and/or buildup of airunder pressure beneath the piston at the end of its return stroke. Andit is also an object of this invention to provide a return air bleedthat is operative with self-return pistons or other means which includethe valving that charges the return air reservoir.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a novel assembly ofelements meeting all of the requirements hereinabove referred to andwhich involves but a few simple and easily formed parts. The latch valveper se is a self-sealing element which is carried between two extremepositions to have a self-lapping and automatic wear takeup action. Thereis the usual trigger valve that operates a novel differential pistonthat servos the latch valve to move it instantly to the two extremepositions required. Assembly is facilitated by the use of snaprings,O-rings and with the entire latch valve mechanism accommodated in theair pressure chamber that is established, by installing a single head orcover. The said cover has a diametrically disposed differential bore'therethrough that operatively carries the servo piston rod, and towhich the latch valve per se is keyed in position rotatably andgenerally as to height. The cylinder head is in the form of a porteddisc that closes both the main drive cylinder and the air returnreservoir, and all of which is captured in working position mainlythrough installation of the single head or cover on the body. It is,therefore, an object of this invention to provide a novel and mostutilitarian combination of parts and elements cooperatively arranged asthus far described. I

The various objects and features of this invention will be fullyunderstood from the following detailed description of the typicalpreferred forms and applications thereof, throughout which descriptionreference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional elevation taken through a typical cylinderand piston operated tool incorporating therein the slide latch valve ofthe present invention. FIGS. 2 and 3 are enlarged detailed sectionalviews taken as indicated by lines 2-2 and 33 on FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is anenlarged detailed sectional view of a portion of the tool and taken asindicated by line 4-4 on FIG. 2, showing the closed positioning of theslide latch valve. FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing the openpositioning of the slide latch valve.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating a second embodiment ofthe present invention, showing the closed positioning of the slide latchvalve. FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the open positioningof the valve to both drive the piston and to charge the return airreservoir. FIG. 8 is a detailed fragmentary view of the slide latchvalve features shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, being taken as indicated by line$-fi on FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIGS. 4 and 6 illustrating a thirdembodiment of the present invention, showing a closed positioning of theslide latch valve to exhaust both the cylinder and the return airreservoir. FIG. i0 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing the openpositioning of the valve to both drive the piston and to charge thereturn air reservoir. FIGS. 11 and 12 are detailed views taken asindicated by lines 11-11 and ll2 112 on FIGS. 9 and 10 respectively.

The air drive tools with which the present invention is concerned arefor fastener driving and involve, generally, a frame A having a bodyportion and a handle or grip portion, a fastener guideway block Bcarried by the frame and adapted to direct fasteners into a piece ofwork, a magazine C for han dling a supply of fasteners such as staplesand cooperating with the guideway block B so that the fasteners areindividually delivered into the work, a cylinder I) and piston Foperating a driver blade D, said cylinder E having a head G and all ofwhich is arranged to establish a return air reservoir R surrounding thecylinder and an air storage chamber H overlying the cylinder and saidreservoir, and in accordance with the invention a slide latch valve Vcooperatively overlying the cylinder head G and a servo means S thatmoves and orients the latch valve for cooperation with porting in thehead G. And in carrying out the invention there are various and otherunique features all as hereinafter described.

The frame A carries the various elements of the total, and is shaped tobe conveniently handled by a person. The body portion of the frame is asimple elongate case 10 having a cylindrical wall extendinglongitudinally thereof and having an opening and recess at the lower endfor receiving and positioning the guideway block B. The handle or gripportion Ill of the frame is provided to give the person handling thetool a convenient means to hold the tool and is a simple grip ofordinary construction that projects from the body. In practice, the gripis substantially normal to the axis of the body and projects therefrom.In structures of the type under consideration the body and grip portionsof the frame are hollow and establish an air storage chamber H, and itis common practice to provide a continuously open fluid-pressure supplyconnection 12 at the grip. It is to be understood that any suitablefluid-pressure supply can be provided and in the case illustrated thehose of the pressure connection is attached to the grip through a quickdisconnect.

The guideway block B extends through the lower end of the frame A and isprovided to receive and deliver fasteners such as staples into the workbeing acted upon by the tool. The guideway block B is carried by thebody in the recess provided therefor and has a limited leakage guidewaytherethrough that opens at its top into the cylinder and at its bottomto atmosphere or against the work. The driver blade D is slenderelongate, part rectangular in cross section, and corresponding to thecross section of the guideway in block B to slide freely therein withsaid limit leakage of air thereby. The driver blade terminates at itsforward end at a flat driving face and has an upper driven portion whichcouples with and has driving engagement with the piston E.

The magazine C is adapted to handle a supply or stack of fasteners suchas U-shaped staples and involves a case 15 carried by the frame A, aguide 16 within the case, a follower 17 adapted to advance the staples,and a feed spring 18 yieldingly urging the follower toward the guidewayand block B. A fastener or staple-receiving opening 14 extends laterallythrough the guideway block B, which opening enters through and into theguideway therein so that the fasteners fed to the guideway are properlyguided and aligned before they are engaged by the driver blade D. Thecase 15 is carried by the body of the frame A and is an elongateshell-like part, and the guide 16 is a corelike part that is coextensivewith the case 15 and is carried between the sidewalls thereof. Alongitudinal passage 19 is formed by the case 15 conforming in generalconfiguration to the fasteners being deployed, for example the U-shapedstaples. The guide 16 enters the fastener or staplereceiving opening 14and terminates in a flat end short of the drive blade D, and in theusual manner whereby one fastener is removed from the magazine upon eachdrive stroke of the tool.

The piston F operates in the cylinder E and has coupled drivingengagement with the driver blade D. The piston F is adapted to drive ormove the drive blade D forwardly or downwardly and is adapted to bedamped or snubbed in momentary sealed engagement with a bumper 20 at thelower end of the cylinder E and after which it is returned to the upperend of the cylinder. The cylinder is carried in the surroundingcylindrical body of the frame A on the longitudinal axis thereof, beingseated in the body at the lower end thereof to stand free in the bodywith its upper end opening into the chamber l-I through the cylinderhead G, and leaving an annulus within the cylindrical body establishingthe return air reservoir R. The piston F moves the length of thecylinder E, arresting against the cylinder head G and rebounding fromthe bumper 20, said bumper being formed of an elastomer material with aparallel opening therethrough to pass the driver blade D. In carryingout the invention and in order to effect return of the piston F to anarrested and prepared condition at the upper end of the cylinder E,there are ports 21 opening through the wall of the cylinder E at thelowermost end thereof and immediately above the bumper 20. Thus, thereturn air reservoir R is in continued open communication with theinterior of cylinder E and always below the piston F.

The slide valve of the present invention is cooperatively combined intothe tool hereinabove described, as follows: the cylinder head G isinstalled upon the top end of cylinder E and in sealed engagement withthe cylindrical body of frame A. The servo means S is installed in thecover 25, and the trigger valve T is installed in either the cover orthe body 10 and preferably in the latter. The latch valve V is theninstalled upon the servo means S previously installed and carriedthereby into working position and slideably engaged with the cylinderhead G when the cover 25 is brought into mating and closed engagementwith the body 10. The final mating of cover 25 with body 10 also placesthe valving elements of trigger valve T in working position in a valvechamber preferably in the cover 25. Suitable means such as screwfasteners 24 secure the cover 25 to the body 10, preferably at a partingline parallel to and spaced above the cylinder head G, and consequentlysaid head is carried in a bore 26 and rests upon a shoulder 27 where itis sealed by an O-ring.

The cylinder head G is a flat disc-shaped part of substantial thicknessand strength as shown, preferably made of metal with a flat and smoothupwardly exposed sealing face 28 in a plane normal to the cylinder axis.The downwardly disposed face 29 of the head closes the cylinder E andthe reservoir R, there being an O-ring 30 carried in a annular groovethat receives the upper terminal end of cylinder E. Thus and inaccordance with the invention the cylinder head G presents the upwardlydisposed sealing face 28 that is ported at 31 so as to open axially fromchamber H into the interior of cylinder E. In order to gain a maximumport area with minimized valve travel, there is a multiplicity of ports31 equally spaced in the direction of valve travel, and as shown eachport 31 is a slot disposed transversely of valve travel or movement andextending between the inner diameter walls of the cylinder E. Themultiplicity of slotted ports 31 are each less in width than thedistance therebetween, so as to establish a substantial overlap with thelatch valve V next to be described. And in practice, the slot-shapedports 31 are suitably interrupted by interconnecting webs 32 thatreinforce the head G, while the ends and/or sides of the slotted portsnext adjacent the inner diameter walls of the cylinder are contoured tothe curvature of said cylinder wall, coextensively with the area of thecylinder as shown. Thus, a substantial and maximum cross-sectional areaof porting is attained. Further and in accordance with the in ventioncertain areas of the cylinder head G are reserved for exhausting thecylinder E, for charging the reservoir R and for exhausting reservoir Rall as hereinafter described, the porting 31 serving to instantaneouslycharge the cylinder E.

In accordance with the invention, the latch valve V is provided andcooperatively engages upon the sealing face 28 to move into and out ofregister with the port or ports 31. Therefore, the latch valve V isprovided with one or more ports 33 complementary to the ports 31 andarranged in a like pattern, so that the ports of the latch valve V alignwith the ports of the head G for open communication, or so that theymove out of register thereby to close off the cylinder E from thechamber H. The latch valve V is also a flat part overlying the cylinderE, and preferably more than coextensively overlying the same, andpreferably made of polypropelene or the like and which has a coefficientof friction with metal such as aluminum to slide freely thereon, with orwithout lubrication. The body of the latch valve V is essentially a flatplatelike rectangular solid as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and it isprovided with a reserved area overlying a complementary area of the headG. In practice, these said reserved areas are for exhausting thecylinder E and are advantageously located on the central axis of thecylinder and in open communication when the latch valve is closed toshut off the ports 31. Since the return stroke of the tool need not bepercussive, the exhaust porting is minimized and relegated to a singlerelatively small port 34 through the head G and a like port 35 throughan upstanding boss 36 projecting from the latch valve body. From theforegoing it will be seen that a full open position of the latch valve Vis attained by moving the same one-half the oncenter distance betweenslotted ports 31 (or 33), the ports 34 and 35 being offset in positionsaid one-half distance for exhaust alignment. and which is the startingpoint of said movement for opening the latch valve V. Thus the latchvalve V has two reciprocally opposite positions, a normal position (seeFIG. 4) where the exhaust ports34 and 35 are aligned, and an operatedposition (see FIG. 5) where the charge ports 31 and 33 are aligned.

The servo means S moves and orients the latch valve V and ischaracterized by its ability to instantly reciprocate the valve from itsnormal closed-exhaust positioning to its operated cylinder-chargingpositioning. As shown, the servo means S is primarily a double-actingfluid-operated cylinder and piston means that includes a manuallyoperable trigger valve T. In its preferred form the means S involves adifferential cylinder and piston 45 incorporated in the cover 25, with acrosshead 46 carrying the latch valve V, and the trigger valve Tincorporated in the combined and mated body and cover 25. With thechamber H continuously charged with air under pressure the differentialcylinder and piston normally holds the latch valve V in itsclosed-exhaust positioning, and alternately is operable through theapplication of positively applied air pressure to instantly shift thelatch valve V into its fully open cylinder-charging position. Saidpositively applied air pressure is supplied to and exhausted from theoperating cylinder of the servo means S by the trigger valve T which isessentially a threeway valve having two positions, one a normal positionexhausting air to atmosphere from the servo cylinder, and the other amanually operated position directing air under pressure from chamber Hand into the servo cylinder. v

The cylinder and piston 45 of the servo means S is disposed on an axisextending transversely of the cover and intersecting the axis of thecylinder E. The cover 25 is a shell-like hat-shaped part thatestablishes a chamber H of substantial volume overlying cylinder head G,and the differential cylinder portions 41 and 42 are boredconcentrically in the diametrically opposite sidewalls of the cover, andpreferably through the sidewalls. The smaller cylinder portion 41 andlarger cylinder portion 42 reciprocally carry fitted opposite ends ofthe piston 45, there being a stop plug 47 arresting the piston in thenormal unactuated position (exhausting cylinder E) and there being astop shoulder 48 arresting the piston in its operated or actuatedposition (charging cylinder E). The piston has an enlarged head 49 withan O-ring seal 50 operable to move reciprocally in the larger cylinderportion 42, and the stop plug 47 is secured in place with a snapring 43and has a static O-ring seal 44 engageable in the cylinder. The cylinderportion 42 is ported between the movable piston head 49 and plug 47 by achannel 51 that supplied and exhausts air from and/or to the triggervalve T. The piston 45 is of reduced diameter at X and extends throughthe smaller cylinder portion 41 and an O-ring seal 53.

In accordance with the invention, and in order to discharge exhaust airand to orient the latch valve V, the boss 36 of the valve and the crosshead 46 of the piston are coupled. A fea ture is the self-sealing of thelatch valve V whereby the platelike valve is urged into pressuredengagement with the face 28 by the fluid under pressure within thechamber H. In order to permit said pressured engagement, the coupledengagement of piston and boss permits shifting of the valve lon--gitudinally and axially of the tool. In practice, the crosshead 46 andboss 36 are telescopically related, there being a bore 54 in thecrosshead on a axis normal to the servo piston axis, the boss 36 beingcylindrical to slideably enter the bore. An 0-- ring 55 seals the bosswithin the bore, and an exhaust channel 56 continues from the bore 54and through the reduced por' tion of piston 45 opening to atmosphere atthe exterior of the cover 25.

The trigger valve T in its normal position exhausts air from the channel51, and in its operated position directs air under pressure into thechannel 51. As shown the valve T involves a valve element 60 operablebetween upper and lower seats in a valve chamber 61, a stem 62 exposedto be depressed by a manually controllable lever 63, and a return means64. The stem 62 is carried in a bore entering into and through thechamber H, being sealed with an O-ring and with clearance surroundingthe stem at the parting line between the body 10 and cover 25. The valveelement 60 is larger in diameter than the stem 62 and has clearancewithin the chamber 61. The valve elements per se are O-rings 65 and 66at the upper and lower ends of the valve element 60 and which seat atopposite ends of the chamber as shown. The return means 64 is acompression spring that normally holds the O-ring 66 against thelowermost seat closing off the supply of air and opening the channel 51and chamber 61 to atmosphere through an exhaust port 67 through thecover from the upper seat of the valve. Upon manual operation of thevalve T the O-ring 65 engages the uppermost seat closing off the exhaustand opening the channel 51 and chamber 61 to the air under pressurewithin chamber H. Thus, the trigger valve T affords a positive pressureactuation of the servo piston 45, which then acts to in stantly shiftthe latch valve V to a position where it directly charges the cylinderE. It is to be observed that the air flow from chamber H and intocylinder E through the ports 31 and 33 is axially direct and virtuallywithout any change in direction of airflow.

In FIGS. 1-5 I have shown the tool and slide latch valve V as it ishereinabove described and wherein the valve boss 36 is free to shifttelescopically within the crosshead 46, the air pressure in chamber Hserving as the sole bias to hold the latch valve V against the cylinderhead face 28. As the latch valve V is reciprocated by the servo means Sthere is an inherent wearing-in action and automatic takeup therefor,said telescoped coupled engagement of the boss 36 and the crosshead 46permitting axial movement of the valve V for this purpose whilemaintaining vertical alignment of the valve and crosshead. As shown,means is provided in the form of a guide channel 80 (see FIG. 2) in thecylinder head G, to rotatably orient the latch valve V during itsreciprocal movements. In this form of tool the piston F isself-returning, having a check valve and passage therethrough thatpasses air under pressure during the work stroke to emanate beneath thepiston thereby charging the return air reservoir R through the cylinderports 21. When the latch valve V is closed and port 35 thereof open toatmosphere, the stored air in reservoir R lifts the piston F to anarrested position beneath the cylinder head G.

In FIGS. 6-8 of the drawings I have shown a second embodi ment whereinthe cylinder head G and slide latch valve V include one or more parts 81and 83 overlying the return air reservoir R. The opening and closing ofports 81 and 83 coincide with the opening and closing of ports 31 and 33respectively, thereby being normally closed and charging the return airreservoir R only during the work stroke of the tool, and allindependently of a self-returning piston as described above.

In FIGS. 913 of the drawings I have shown a third embodiment of the toolincorporating the slide latch valve V with an improved crosshead 46 thatretains and guides the latch valve V and which includes bias meansinitially urging the latch valve into engagement with the face .28 ofthe cylinder head G The rotational positioning and longitudinalretainment of the latch valve V is attained by means of a key 76 havingparallel legs entering the bore in the boss through like-spacedhorizontal openings and engaged with complementary spaced flats in theboss 36'. The bias means 75 is a compression spring that seats upon thecrosshead 46' of piston 45' and that presses against the latch valve Vto urge it downwardly into pressured engagement with the cylinder headface 28'. g

In the third embodiment of the tool a self-return piston is employed,the same as hereinabove described, and positive means is provided toexhaust the return air reservoir R at the end of each return cycle ofthe tool. In this form of the invention the latch valve V includes acharge port 92 and a relief port 93 that move alternately into and outof register with charging and exhaust port 91 through the head G andcommunicating with the return air reservoir R. The opening and closingof charging and exhaust port 91 coincides with the opening and closingof port 31 (or ports 31), thereby charging and exhausting the return airreservoir R during the closed and exhaust positioning of the piston 45'and for the duration of time that the piston F is arrested at the upperend of the cylinder E. The charging port 92 is of ample cross section soas to readily supply air into the return air reservoir R, while therelief port 93 is of restricted cross section so as to act as a beam andthereby prevent depletion of air pressure until after completion of thereturn stroke of the piston Ft The two positions of the valve and saidporting are shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Note that the cylinder head G has araised face 28' for increasing the stroke of the piston F whilemaintaining and/or increasing the volume of the chamber H through opencommunication into grip 11 As shown, the piston 45 can be sectional withspool-shaped piston heads operable in the cylinder portions 41 and 42.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the slide latch valve movestransversely at a right angle to the axis of the tool and its cylinderand piston motor. Characteristically, the charging of the motor cylinderis performed with compressed air that moves axially from the air storagechamber and directly into the motor cylinder. The latch valve is guidedto reciprocate across the top face of the cylinder head which is exposedto the air storage chamber, and the porting arrangement in the latchvalve and complementary porting in the cylinder head is such as torequire but a short travel between fully closed and fully openpositionings. The latch valve per se is a lightweight part of materialthat conforms to the seat upon which it is also free to slide; and alsothe servo means, a differentially operated cylinder and piston motor, isa lightweight composite of but few simply formed parts coupled with andto shift the latch valve. As a result of the substantial and positiveair pressure available to operate the tool, the servo means is arapidoperating device, whereby the moving of the latch valve,particularly into an open position, is a quick and positive operationand to the end that the supply of compressed air into the motor cylinderis instantaneous when the trigger of the tool is manually depressed.Further, the various embodiments hereinabove described show theversatility of this slide latch such as to be adapted to various usefularrangements effective to drive and return the piston requiring rapidand unimpeded cycles of operation.

Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of myinvention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specificdetails herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself anymodifications or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art.

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

1. In combination: a single-stroke percussively operable motor having acylinder with an actuating piston operable therein between a retractedposition at one end of the cylinder and an actuated position at theother end of the cylinder, having a fluid-pressure storage chamber ofcapacity to percussively actuate the piston and overlying and nextadjacent to said one end of the cylinder, having a cylinder head axiallyseparating the interior of the cylinder from fluid-pressure storagechamber and with at least one axially disposed port therethrough, andhaving means supplying fluid under pressure into the said chamber; aslide latch valve movable transversely of the cylinder head and havingat least one axial port therethrough movable out of and into alignmentand with said at least one axially disposed port in the cylinder head,said cylinder head and said valve having mating planar surfaces; and amanually operable fluid-actuating pilot valve means connected to andactuating the slide latch valve from a closed position whereat the saidports are out of alignment to an open position whereat the said portsare in alignment; whereby fluid pressure stored in said chamberdischarges axially through said ports when the slide latch valve is inthe open position and into the said cylinder to move the pistonpercussively toward the said other end of the cylinder.

2. The single-stroke percussively operable cylinder and piston motorcombined with the slide latch valve and manually operable means as setforth in claim 1 wherein, the cylinder head is disposed in a planenormal to the cylinder axis, and wherein the slide latch valve movesreciprocally in said plane to align said ports for discharge ofcompressed fluid axially from the storage chamber and into the cylinder.

3. The single-stroke percussively operable cylinder and piston motorcombined with the slide latch valve and manually operable means as setforth in claim 1 wherein, the cylinder head has a flat sealing faceexposed within the fluid-pressure storage chamber, and wherein the slidelatch valve overlies the sealing face and is held slideably engagedthereupon by fluid pressure in said storage chamber.

4. The single-stroke percussively operable cylinder and piston motorcombined with the slide latch valve and manually operable means as setforth in claim 1 wherein, the cylinder head is disposed in a planenormal to the cylinder axis and has a flat sealing face and is heldthereto to slide reciprocally in said plane and engaged upon saidsealing face by fluid pressure in said storage chamber.

5. The single-stroke percussively operable cylinder and piston motorcombined with the slide latch valve and manually operable means as setforth in claim 1 wherein, the manually operable fluid-actuating pilotvalve means includes a reversely operable cylinder and piston servo anda trigger valve operable to reversely charge the cylinder of said servowith fluid pressure.

6. The single-stroke percussively operable cylinder and piston motorcombined with the slide latch valve and manually operable means as setforth in claim 1 wherein, the manually operable fluid-actuating pilotvalve means includes a differential cylinder and piston with spacedinterconnected large and small pistons exposed to fluid pressure withinthe storage chamber, the large piston operable in a closed cylinder boreand the small piston operable in an exhaust bore, and a trigger valveoperable to alternately charge said closed cylinder bore with fluidpressure and to exhaust the same.

7. The single-stroke percussively operable cylinder and piston motorcombined with the slide latch valve and manually operable means as setforth in claim 1 wherein, the cylinder head has a flat sealing faceexposed with the fluid-pressure storagechamber, wherein the slide latchvalve overlies the sealing face and is held slideably engaged thereuponby fluid pressure in said storage chamber, and wherein the manuallyoperable fluid-actuating pilot valve includes a reversely operablecylinder and piston servo extending through the fluid-pressure storagechamber and on an axis parallel to the said flat sealing face and withthe piston thereof coupled to the slide latch valve to reciprocallyposition the same,and a trigger valve operable to reversely charge thecylinder of said servo with fluid pressure.

8. The single-stroke percussively operable cylinder and piston motorcombined with the slide latch valve and manually operable means as setforth in claim 1 wherein, the cylinder head has a flat sealing faceexposed within thejfluid-pressure storage chamber, wherein the slidelatch valve overlies the sealing face and is held slideably engagedthereupon by fluid pressure in said storage chamber, and wherein themanually operable fluid-actuating pilot valve means includes atriggeroperated fluid-actuated servo extending through the fluidpressurestorage chamber and on an axis parallel to the said flat sealing faceand with a piston telescopically coupled to the slide latch valve on anaxis normal to the plane of said flat sealing face to adjustably seatthereon.

9, The single-stroke percussively operable cylinder and piston motorcombined with the slide latch valve and manually operable means as setforth in claim 1 wherein, the cylinder head has a flat sealing faceexposed within the fluid-pressure storage chamber, wherein the slidelatch valve overlies the sealing face and is held slideably engagedthereupon by fluid pressure in said storage chamber, and wherein themanually operable fluid-actuating pilot valve means includes atriggeroperated fluid-actuated servo extending through the fluidpressurestorage chamber and on an axis parallel to the said flat sealing faceand with a piston telescopically coupled to and with means yieldinglypressing the slide latch valve on an axis normal to and toward the planeof said flat sealing face to adjustably seat thereon.

10 The single-stroke percussively operable cylinder and piston motorcombined with the slide latch valve and manually operable means as setforth in claim 1 wherein, the cylinder head has a flat sealing faceexposed within the fluid-pressure storage chamber, wherein the slidelatch valve overlies the sealing face and is held slideably engagedthereupon by fluid pressure in said storage chamber, wherein themanually operable fluid-actuating pilot valve means includes adifferential cylinder and piston extending through the fluid-pressurestorage chamber and on an axis parallel to said flat sealing face andwith spaced interconnected large and small pistons exposed to fluidpressure within the storage chamber, the large piston operable in aclosed cylinder bore and the small piston operable in an exhaust bore,wherein the slide latch valve is telescopically coupled to theinterconnected pistons on an axis normal to the plane of said flatsealing face to adjustably seat thereon, and wherein a trigger valve isoperable to alternately charge said closed cylinder bore with fluidpressure and to exhaust the same.

11. In combination: a double'acting percussively operable motor having acylinder with an actuating piston operable therein between a retractedposition at one end of the cylinder and'an actuated position at theother end of the cylinder, having a fluid-pressure storage chamber ofcapacity to percussively actuate the piston and axially overlying andnext adjacent to said one end of the cylinder, having a cylinder headseparating .the interior of the cylinder from the fluid-pressure storagechamber and with transversely spaced axially disposed inlet and exhaustports therethrough, and having means supplying fluid under pressure intothe said chamber; a slide latch valve movable transversely of thecylinder head and having transversely spaced axially disposed inlet andexhaust ports com plementary to and alternately movable out of and intoalignment with the inlet and exhaust ports in the cylinder head, saidcylinder head and said valve having mating planar surfaces; a manuallyoperable fluid-actuating pilot valve means actuating the slide latchvalve from a closed position whereat the said inlet ports are out ofalignment and the said exhaust ports are in alignment, to an openposition whereat the said inlet ports are in alignment and said exhaustports are out of alignment;

whereby fluid pressure stored in said chamber discharges axially throughsaid inlet ports when the slide latch valve is in the open position andinto the said cylinder to move the piston percussively toward the saidother end of the cylinder, and whereby fluid discharged into thecylinder is exhausted axially through said exhaust ports when the slidevalve is in the closed position, and return means applying fluidpressure to beneath the piston when the slide latch valve is in saidclosed position.

12. The double-acting percussively operable cylinder and piston motorcombined with the slide latch valve and manually operable means andreturn means as set forth in claim 11 I wherein, there is a multiplicityof complementary inlet ports through the cylinder head and slide latchvalve and spaced equally transversely in the direction that the slidelatch valve is moved.

13. The double-acting percussively operable cylinder and piston motorcombined with the slide latch valve and manually operable means andreturn means as set forth in claim lll wherein, there is a multiplicityof complementary and equally spaced slot-shaped inlet ports through thecylinder head and slide latch valve and disposed normal to thetransverse direction that the slide latch valve is moved.

14. The double-acting percussively operable cylinder and piston motorcombined with the slide latch valve and manually operable means andreturn means as set forth in claim 11 wherein, there is a multiplicityof complementary and equally :spaced slot-shaped inlet ports through thecylinder head and 16. The double-acting percussively operable cylinderand piston motor combined with the slide latch valve and manuallyoperable means and return means as set forth in claim 11 wherein, thereis a multiplicity of complementary inlet ports through the cylinder headand slide latch valve and spaced equally in the transverse directionthat the slide latch is transversely movable, and wherein there is asingle complementary exhaust port through the cylinder head and slidelatch valve respectively and aligned on the center axis of the cylinderand piston when the slide latch valve is in said closed position.

117. The double-acting percussively operable cylinder and piston motorcombined with the slide latch valve and manually operable means andreturn means as set forth in claim lll wherein, there is a multiplicityof complementary and equally spaced slot-shaped inlet ports through thecylinder head and slide latch valve and disposed normal to thetransverse direction that the slide latch valve is moved, and whereinthere is a single complementary exhaust port through the cylinder headand slide latch valve respectively and aligned on the center axis of thecylinder and piston when the slide latch valve is in said closedposition.

118. The double-acting percussively operable cylinder and piston motorcombined with the slide latch valve and manually operable means andreturn means as set forth in claim 11 wherein, there is a multiplicityof complementary and equally spaced slot-spaced inlet ports through thecylinder head and slide latch valve and extending substantiallycoextensive between opposite walls of the cylinder and disposed normalto the transverse direction that the slide latch valve is moved,

and wherein there is a single complementary exhaust port through thecylinder head and slide latch valve respectively and aligned on thecenter axis of the cylinder and piston when the slide latch valve is insaid closed position.

19. The double-acting percussively operable cylinder and piston motorcombined with the slide latch valve and manually operable means andreturn means as set forth in claim 11 wherein, the manually operablefluid-actuating pilot valve means includes a differential cylinder andpiston with spaced interconnected large and small pistons exposed tofluid pressure within the storage chamber, the large piston operable ina closed cylinder bore and the small piston operable in an exhaust bore,said exhaust port through the slide latch valve being open through theinterconnected pistons to the said exhaust bore, and a trigger valveoperable to alternately charge said closed cylinder bore with fluidpressure and to exhaust the same;

20, The double-acting percussively operable cylinder and piston motorcombined with the slide latch valve and manually operable means andreturn means as set forth in claim 11 wherein, the cylinder head has aflat sealing face exposed within the fluid-pressure storage chamber,wherein the slide latch valve overlies the sealing face and is heldslideably engaged thereupon by fluid pressure in said storage chamber,wherein the manually operable fluid-actuating pilot valve means includesa differential cylinder and piston extending through the fluid-pressurestorage chamber and on an axis parallel to said flat sealing face andwith spaced interconnected large and small pistons exposed to fluidpressure within the storage chamber, the large piston operable in aclosed cylinder bore and the small piston operable in an exhaust bore,wherein the slide latch valve is telescopically coupled to theinterconnected piston on an axis normal to the plane of said flatsealing face to adjustably seat thereon, said exhaust port through theslide latch valve being open through said telescopic couple to openthrough said exhaust bore, and wherein a trigger valve is operable toalternately charge said closed cylinder bore with fluid pressure and toexhaust the same.

21. In combination: a double-acting percussively operable motor having acylinder with an actuating piston operable therein between a normallyretracted position at one end of the cylinder and an actuated positionat the other end of the cylinder, having a fluid-pressure storagechamber axially overlying and next adjacent to said one end of thecylindenhaving a return fluid reservoir in open communication into thesaid other end of the cylinder, having a cylinder head separating theinterior of the cylinder from the fluid-pressure storage chamber andwith transversely spaced axially disposed inlet and exhaustreservoir-charging ports, and having means supplying fluid underpressure into the said chamber; a slide latch valve movable transverselyof the cylinder head and having transversely spaced axially disposedinlet and exhaust and reservoir charging ports complementary to andalternately movable out of and into alignment with the inlet and exhaustand reservoir charging ports in the cylinder head, said cylinder headand said valve having mating planar surfaces; a manually operablefluid-actuating pilot valve means actuating the slide latch valve from aclosed position whereat the said inlet ports and said reservoir-chargingports are out of alignment and the said exhaust ports are in alignment,to an open position whereat the said inlet ports and saidreservoir-charging ports are in alignment and the said exhaust ports areout of alignment; whereby fluid pressure stored in said chamberdischarges axially through said inlet ports and said reservoirchargingports when the slide latch valve is in the open position and into thesaid cylinder to move the piston percussively toward the said other endof the cylinder and into said return fluid reservoir, and whereby fluiddischarged into the cylinder is exhausted axially through said exhaustports when the slide latch valve is in the closed position and thepiston is returned to the normally retracted position by fluid pressurefrom the return fluid reservoir applied into the other end of thecylinder and beneath the piston.

22. The double-acting percussively operable cylinder and piston motorcombined with the slide latch valve and manually operable means andreturn-fluid reservoir as set forth in claim 21 wherein, the cylinderhead extends radially of the cylinder to overlie the return-fluidreservoir with the reservoir-charging ports through the said head andslide latch valve opening from the fluid-pressure storage chamber andinto the returnfluid reservoir when the slide latch valve is in the openposition 23. The double-acting percussively operable cylinder and pistonmotor combined with the slide latch valve and manually operable meansand return-fluid reservoir as set forth in claim 21 wherein, thecylinder head extends radially of the cylinder to overlie thereturn-fluid reservoir with the reservoir-charging ports through thesaid head and slide latch valve opening from the fluid-pressure storagechamber and into the returnfluid reservoir when the slide latch valve isin the open position, and wherein the manually operable fluid-actuatingpilot valve means includes a differential cylinder and piston withspaced interconnected large and small pistons exposed to fluid pressurewithin the storage chamber, the large piston operable in a closedcylinder bore and the small piston operable in an exhaust bore, and atrigger valve operable to alternately charge said closed cylinder borewith fluid pressure and to exhaust the same.

24. The double-acting percussively operable cylinder and piston motorcombined with the slide latch valve and manually operable means andreturn-fluid reservoir as set forth in claim 21 wherein, the cylinderhead extends radially of the cylinder to overlie the return-fluidreservoir with the reservoir-charging ports through the said head andslide latch valve opening from the fluid reservoir when the slide latchvalve is in the open position, wherein the cylinder head has a flatsealing face exposed within the fluid-pressure storage chamber, whereinthe slide latch valve overlies the sealing face and is held slideablyengaged thereupon by fluid pressure in said storage chamber, wherein themanually operable fluid-actuating pilot valve includes a differentialcylinder and piston extending through the fluid-pressure storage chamberand on an axis parallel to said flat sealing face and with spacedinterconnected large and small pistons exposed to fluid pressure withinthe storage chamber, the large piston operable in a closed cylinder boreand the small piston operable in an exhaust bore, wherein the slidelatch valve is telescopically coupled to the interconnected pistons onan axis normal to the plane of said flat sealing face to adjustably seatthereon, and wherein a trigger valve is operable to alternately chargesaid closed cylinder bore with fluid pressure and to exhaust the same.

25. In combination: a double acting percussively operable motor having acylinder with a self-returning actuating piston operable therein betweena normal retracted position at one end of the cylinder and an actuatedposition at the other end of the cylinder, having a fluid pressurestorage chamber axially overlying and next adjacent to said one end ofthe cylinder, having a return fluid reservoir in open communication intothe said other end of the cylinder, having a cylinder head separatingthe interior of the cylinder from the fluid pressure storage chamber andwith transversely spaced axially disposed inlet and exhaust andreservoir relief ports, having a check valve admitting fluid from saidone end of the cylinder and into the return fluid reservoir, and havingmeans supplying fluid under pressure into the said chamber, a slidelatch valve movable transversely of the cylinder head and havingtransversely spaced axially disposed inlet and exhaust and reservoirrelief ports complementary to and alternately movable out of and intoalignment with the inlet and exhaust and reservoir relief ports in thecylinder head, said cylinder head and said valve having mating planarsurfaces; a manually operable fluid actuating pilot valve meansactuating the slide latch valve from a closed position whereat the saidinlet ports are out of alignment and the said exhaust and reservoirrelief ports are in alignment, to an open position whereat the saidinlet ports are in alignment and the said exhaust and reservoir reliefports are in alignment, to an open position whereat the said inlet portsare in alignment and the said exhaust and reservoir relief ports are outof alignment; whereby fluid pressure stored in said chamber dischargesaxially through said inlet ports when the slide latch valve is in theopen position and into the said cylinder to more the piston percussivelytoward the said other end of the cylinder, and through said check valvecharging said reservoir, and whereby fluid discharged into the cylinderis exhausted axially through said exhaust ports when the slide latchvalve is in the closed position and the piston is returned to thenormally retracted position by fluid pressure from the return fluidreservoir applied into the other end of the cylinder and beneath thepiston.

26. The double acting percussively operable cylinder and self-returningpiston motor combined with the slide latch valve and manually operablemeans and return fluid reservoir as set forth in claim 25 wherein thecylinder head extends radially of the cylinder to overlie the returnfluid reservoir with the reservoir relief ports through the said headand slide latch valve opening from the return fluid reservoir to anexhaust port when the slide latch valve is in the closed position.

27. The double acting percussively operable cylinder and self-returningpiston motor combined with the slide latch valve and manually operablemeans and return fluid reservoir as set forth in claim 25 wherein thecylinder head extends radially of the cylinder to overlie the returnfluid reservoir with the reservoir relief ports through the said headand slide latch valve opening from the return fluid reservoir to anexhaust port when the slide latch valve is in the closed position, andwherein the manually operable fluid actuating pilot valve means includesa differential cylinder and piston with spaced interconnected large andsmall pistons exposed to fluid pressure within the storage chamber, thelarge piston operable in a closed cylinder bore and the small pistonoperable in an exhaust bore, and a trigger valve operable in an exhaustbore, and a trigger valve operable to alternately charge said closedcylinder bore with fluid pressure and to exhaust the same.

28. The double acting acting percussively operable cylinder andself-returning piston motor combined with the slide latch valve andmanually operable means and return fluid reservoir as set forth in claim25 wherein the cylinder head extends radially of the cylinder to overliethe return fluid reservoir with the reservoir relief ports through thesaid head and slide latch valve opening from the return fluid reservoirto an exhaust port when the slide latch valve is in the closed position,and

chamber, the large piston operable in a closed cylinder bore and thesmall piston operable in an exhaust bore, wherein the last said pistonoperable in an exhaust bore, wherein the last said piston istelescopically coupled to the slide latch valve on an axis normal to theplane of said flat sealing face to reciprocally position the same, andwherein a trigger valve is operable to alternately charge said closedcylinder bore with fluid pressure and to exhaust the same.

1. In combination: a single-stroke percussively operable motor having acylinder with an actuating piston operable therein between a retractedposition at one end of the cylinder and an actuated position at theother end of the cylinder, having a fluid-pressure storage chamber ofcapacity to percussively actuate the piston and overlying and nextadjacent to said one end of the cylinder, having a cylinder head axiallyseparating the interior of the cylinder from fluid-pressure storagechamber and with at least one axially disposed port therethrough, andhaving means supplying fluid under pressure into the said chamber; aslide latch valve movable transversely of the cylinder head and havingat least one axial port therethrough movable out of and into alignmentand with said at least one axially disposed port in the cylinder head,said cylinder head and said valve having mating planar surfaces; and amanually operable fluidactuating pilot valve means connected to andactuating the slide latch valve from a closed position whereat the saidports are out of alignment to an open position whereat the said portsare in alignment; whereby fluid pressure stored in said chamberdischarges axially through said ports when the slide latch valve is inthe open position and into the said cylinder to move the pistonpercussively toWard the said other end of the cylinder.
 2. Thesingle-stroke percussively operable cylinder and piston motor combinedwith the slide latch valve and manually operable means as set forth inclaim 1 wherein, the cylinder head is disposed in a plane normal to thecylinder axis, and wherein the slide latch valve moves reciprocally insaid plane to align said ports for discharge of compressed fluid axiallyfrom the storage chamber and into the cylinder.
 3. The single-strokepercussively operable cylinder and piston motor combined with the slidelatch valve and manually operable means as set forth in claim 1 wherein,the cylinder head has a flat sealing face exposed within thefluid-pressure storage chamber, and wherein the slide latch valveoverlies the sealing face and is held slideably engaged thereupon byfluid pressure in said storage chamber.
 4. The single-strokepercussively operable cylinder and piston motor combined with the slidelatch valve and manually operable means as set forth in claim 1 wherein,the cylinder head is disposed in a plane normal to the cylinder axis andhas a flat sealing face exposed within the fluid-pressure storagechamber, and wherein the slide latch valve overlies the sealing face andis held thereto to slide reciprocally in said plane and engaged uponsaid sealing face by fluid pressure in said storage chamber.
 5. Thesingle-stroke percussively operable cylinder and piston motor combinedwith the slide latch valve and manually operable means as set forth inclaim 1 wherein, the manually operable fluid-actuating pilot valve meansincludes a reversely operable cylinder and piston servo and a triggervalve operable to reversely charge the cylinder of said servo with fluidpressure.
 6. The single-stroke percussively operable cylinder and pistonmotor combined with the slide latch valve and manually operable means asset forth in claim 1 wherein, the manually operable fluid-actuatingpilot valve means includes a differential cylinder and piston withspaced interconnected large and small pistons exposed to fluid pressurewithin the storage chamber, the large piston operable in a closedcylinder bore and the small piston operable in an exhaust bore, and atrigger valve operable to alternately charge said closed cylinder borewith fluid pressure and to exhaust the same.
 7. The single-strokepercussively operable cylinder and piston motor combined with the slidelatch valve and manually operable means as set forth in claim 1 wherein,the cylinder head has a flat sealing face exposed with thefluid-pressure storage chamber, wherein the slide latch valve overliesthe sealing face and is held slideably engaged thereupon by fluidpressure in said storage chamber, and wherein the manually operablefluid-actuating pilot valve means includes a reversely operable cylinderand piston servo extending through the fluid-pressure storage chamberand on an axis parallel to the said flat sealing face and with thepiston thereof coupled to the slide latch valve to reciprocally positionthe same, and a trigger valve operable to reversely charge the cylinderof said servo with fluid pressure.
 8. The single-stroke percussivelyoperable cylinder and piston motor combined with the slide latch valveand manually operable means as set forth in claim 1 wherein, thecylinder head has a flat sealing face exposed within the fluid-pressurestorage chamber, wherein the slide latch valve overlies the sealing faceand is held slideably engaged thereupon by fluid pressure in saidstorage chamber, and wherein the manually operable fluid-actuating pilotvalve means includes a trigger-operated fluid-actuated servo extendingthrough the fluid-pressure storage chamber and on an axis parallel tothe said flat sealing face and with a piston telescopically coupled tothe slide latch valve on an axis normal to the plane of said flatsealing face to adjustably seat thereon.
 9. The single-strokepercussively operable cylinder and piston motor combined with the slidelatch valve and manually operable means as set forth in claim 1 wherein,the cylinder head has a flat sealing face exposed within thefluid-pressure storage chamber, wherein the slide latch valve overliesthe sealing face and is held slideably engaged thereupon by fluidpressure in said storage chamber, and wherein the manually operablefluid-actuating pilot valve means includes a trigger-operatedfluid-actuated servo extending through the fluid-pressure storagechamber and on an axis parallel to the said flat sealing face and with apiston telescopically coupled to and with means yieldingly pressing theslide latch valve on an axis normal to and toward the plane of said flatsealing face to adjustably seat thereon. 10 The single-strokepercussively operable cylinder and piston motor combined with the slidelatch valve and manually operable means as set forth in claim 1 wherein,the cylinder head has a flat sealing face exposed within thefluid-pressure storage chamber, wherein the slide latch valve overliesthe sealing face and is held slideably engaged thereupon by fluidpressure in said storage chamber, wherein the manually operablefluid-actuating pilot valve means includes a differential cylinder andpiston extending through the fluid-pressure storage chamber and on anaxis parallel to said flat sealing face and with spaced interconnectedlarge and small pistons exposed to fluid pressure within the storagechamber, the large piston operable in a closed cylinder bore and thesmall piston operable in an exhaust bore, wherein the slide latch valveis telescopically coupled to the interconnected pistons on an axisnormal to the plane of said flat sealing face to adjustably seatthereon, and wherein a trigger valve is operable to alternately chargesaid closed cylinder bore with fluid pressure and to exhaust the same.11. In combination: a double-acting percussively operable motor having acylinder with an actuating piston operable therein between a retractedposition at one end of the cylinder and an actuated position at theother end of the cylinder, having a fluid-pressure storage chamber ofcapacity to percussively actuate the piston and axially overlying andnext adjacent to said one end of the cylinder, having a cylinder headseparating the interior of the cylinder from the fluid-pressure storagechamber and with transversely spaced axially disposed inlet and exhaustports therethrough, and having means supplying fluid under pressure intothe said chamber; a slide latch valve movable transversely of thecylinder head and having transversely spaced axially disposed inlet andexhaust ports complementary to and alternately movable out of and intoalignment with the inlet and exhaust ports in the cylinder head, saidcylinder head and said valve having mating planar surfaces; a manuallyoperable fluid-actuating pilot valve means actuating the slide latchvalve from a closed position whereat the said inlet ports are out ofalignment and the said exhaust ports are in alignment, to an openposition whereat the said inlet ports are in alignment and said exhaustports are out of alignment; whereby fluid pressure stored in saidchamber discharges axially through said inlet ports when the slide latchvalve is in the open position and into the said cylinder to move thepiston percussively toward the said other end of the cylinder, andwhereby fluid discharged into the cylinder is exhausted axially throughsaid exhaust ports when the slide latch valve is in the closed position,and return means applying fluid pressure to beneath the piston when theslide latch valve is in said closed position.
 12. The double-actingpercussively operable cylinder and piston motor combined with the slidelatch valve and manually operable means and return means as set forth inclaim 11 wherein, there is a multiplicity of complementary inlet portsthrough the cylinder head and slide latch valve and spaced equallytransversely in the direction that the slide latch valve is moved. 13.The double-acTing percussively operable cylinder and piston motorcombined with the slide latch valve and manually operable means andreturn means as set forth in claim 11 wherein, there is a multiplicityof complementary and equally spaced slot-shaped inlet ports through thecylinder head and slide latch valve and disposed normal to thetransverse direction that the slide latch valve is moved.
 14. Thedouble-acting percussively operable cylinder and piston motor combinedwith the slide latch valve and manually operable means and return meansas set forth in claim 11 wherein, there is a multiplicity ofcomplementary and equally spaced slot-shaped inlet ports through thecylinder head and slide latch valve and extending substantiallycoextensive between opposite walls of the cylinder and disposed normalto the transverse direction that the slide latch valve is moved.
 15. Thedouble-acting percussively operable cylinder and piston motor combinedwith the slide latch valve and manually operable means and return meansas set forth in claim 11 wherein, there is a single complementaryexhaust port through the cylinder head and slide latch valverespectively and aligned on the center axis of the cylinder and pistonwhen the slide latch valve is in said closed position.
 16. Thedouble-acting percussively operable cylinder and piston motor combinedwith the slide latch valve and manually operable means and return meansas set forth in claim 11 wherein, there is a multiplicity ofcomplementary inlet ports through the cylinder head and slide latchvalve and spaced equally in the transverse direction that the slidelatch is transversely movable, and wherein there is a singlecomplementary exhaust port through the cylinder head and slide latchvalve respectively and aligned on the center axis of the cylinder andpiston when the slide latch valve is in said closed position.
 17. Thedouble-acting percussively operable cylinder and piston motor combinedwith the slide latch valve and manually operable means and return meansas set forth in claim 11 wherein, there is a multiplicity ofcomplementary and equally spaced slot-shaped inlet ports through thecylinder head and slide latch valve and disposed normal to thetransverse direction that the slide latch valve is moved, and whereinthere is a single complementary exhaust port through the cylinder headand slide latch valve respectively and aligned on the center axis of thecylinder and piston when the slide latch valve is in said closedposition.
 18. The double-acting percussively operable cylinder andpiston motor combined with the slide latch valve and manually operablemeans and return means as set forth in claim 11 wherein, there is amultiplicity of complementary and equally spaced slot-spaced inlet portsthrough the cylinder head and slide latch valve and extendingsubstantially coextensive between opposite walls of the cylinder anddisposed normal to the transverse direction that the slide latch valveis moved, and wherein there is a single complementary exhaust portthrough the cylinder head and slide latch valve respectively and alignedon the center axis of the cylinder and piston when the slide latch valveis in said closed position.
 19. The double-acting percussively operablecylinder and piston motor combined with the slide latch valve andmanually operable means and return means as set forth in claim 11wherein, the manually operable fluid-actuating pilot valve meansincludes a differential cylinder and piston with spaced interconnectedlarge and small pistons exposed to fluid pressure within the storagechamber, the large piston operable in a closed cylinder bore and thesmall piston operable in an exhaust bore, said exhaust port through theslide latch valve being open through the interconnected pistons to thesaid exhaust bore, and a trigger valve operable to alternately chargesaid closed cylinder bore with fluid pressure and to exhaust the same.20. The double-acting percussively operable cylinder and piston motorcombined with the slide latch valve and manually operable means andreturn means as set forth in claim 11 wherein, the cylinder head has aflat sealing face exposed within the fluid-pressure storage chamber,wherein the slide latch valve overlies the sealing face and is heldslideably engaged thereupon by fluid pressure in said storage chamber,wherein the manually operable fluid-actuating pilot valve means includesa differential cylinder and piston extending through the fluid-pressurestorage chamber and on an axis parallel to said flat sealing face andwith spaced interconnected large and small pistons exposed to fluidpressure within the storage chamber, the large piston operable in aclosed cylinder bore and the small piston operable in an exhaust bore,wherein the slide latch valve is telescopically coupled to theinterconnected piston on an axis normal to the plane of said flatsealing face to adjustably seat thereon, said exhaust port through theslide latch valve being open through said telescopic couple to openthrough said exhaust bore, and wherein a trigger valve is operable toalternately charge said closed cylinder bore with fluid pressure and toexhaust the same.
 21. In combination: a double-acting percussivelyoperable motor having a cylinder with an actuating piston operabletherein between a normally retracted position at one end of the cylinderand an actuated position at the other end of the cylinder, having afluid-pressure storage chamber axially overlying and next adjacent tosaid one end of the cylinder, having a return fluid reservoir in opencommunication into the said other end of the cylinder, having a cylinderhead separating the interior of the cylinder from the fluid-pressurestorage chamber and with transversely spaced axially disposed inlet andexhaust reservoir-charging ports, and having means supplying fluid underpressure into the said chamber; a slide latch valve movable transverselyof the cylinder head and having transversely spaced axially disposedinlet and exhaust and reservoir charging ports complementary to andalternately movable out of and into alignment with the inlet and exhaustand reservoir charging ports in the cylinder head, said cylinder headand said valve having mating planar surfaces; a manually operablefluid-actuating pilot valve means actuating the slide latch valve from aclosed position whereat the said inlet ports and said reservoir-chargingports are out of alignment and the said exhaust ports are in alignment,to an open position whereat the said inlet ports and saidreservoir-charging ports are in alignment and the said exhaust ports areout of alignment; whereby fluid pressure stored in said chamberdischarges axially through said inlet ports and said reservoir-chargingports when the slide latch valve is in the open position and into thesaid cylinder to move the piston percussively toward the said other endof the cylinder and into said return fluid reservoir, and whereby fluiddischarged into the cylinder is exhausted axially through said exhaustports when the slide latch valve is in the closed position and thepiston is returned to the normally retracted position by fluid pressurefrom the return fluid reservoir applied into the other end of thecylinder and beneath the piston.
 22. The double-acting percussivelyoperable cylinder and piston motor combined with the slide latch valveand manually operable means and return-fluid reservoir as set forth inclaim 21 wherein, the cylinder head extends radially of the cylinder tooverlie the return-fluid reservoir with the reservoir-charging portsthrough the said head and slide latch valve opening from thefluid-pressure storage chamber and into the return-fluid reservoir whenthe slide latch valve is in the open position.
 23. The double-actingpercussively operable cylinder and piston motor combined with the slidelatch valve and manually operable means and return-fluid reservoir asset forth in claim 21 wherein, the cylinder head extends radially of Thecylinder to overlie the return-fluid reservoir with thereservoir-charging ports through the said head and slide latch valveopening from the fluid-pressure storage chamber and into thereturn-fluid reservoir when the slide latch valve is in the openposition, and wherein the manually operable fluid-actuating pilot valvemeans includes a differential cylinder and piston with spacedinterconnected large and small pistons exposed to fluid pressure withinthe storage chamber, the large piston operable in a closed cylinder boreand the small piston operable in an exhaust bore, and a trigger valveoperable to alternately charge said closed cylinder bore with fluidpressure and to exhaust the same.
 24. The double-acting percussivelyoperable cylinder and piston motor combined with the slide latch valveand manually operable means and return-fluid reservoir as set forth inclaim 21 wherein, the cylinder head extends radially of the cylinder tooverlie the return-fluid reservoir with the reservoir-charging portsthrough the said head and slide latch valve opening from thefluid-pressure storage chamber and into the return-fluid reservoir whenthe slide latch valve is in the open position, wherein the cylinder headhas a flat sealing face exposed within the fluid-pressure storagechamber, wherein the slide latch valve overlies the sealing face and isheld slideably engaged thereupon by fluid pressure in said storagechamber, wherein the manually operable fluid-actuating pilot valve meansincludes a differential cylinder and piston extending through thefluid-pressure storage chamber and on an axis parallel to said flatsealing face and with spaced interconnected large and small pistonsexposed to fluid pressure within the storage chamber, the large pistonoperable in a closed cylinder bore and the small piston operable in anexhaust bore, wherein the slide latch valve is telescopically coupled tothe interconnected pistons on an axis normal to the plane of said flatsealing face to adjustably seat thereon, and wherein a trigger valve isoperable to alternately charge said closed cylinder bore with fluidpressure and to exhaust the same.
 25. In combination: a double actingpercussively operable motor having a cylinder with a self-returningactuating piston operable therein between a normal retracted position atone end of the cylinder and an actuated position at the other end of thecylinder, having a fluid pressure storage chamber axially overlying andnext adjacent to said one end of the cylinder, having a return fluidreservoir in open communication into the said other end of the cylinder,having a cylinder head separating the interior of the cylinder from thefluid pressure storage chamber and with transversely spaced axiallydisposed inlet and exhaust and reservoir relief ports, having a checkvalve admitting fluid from said one end of the cylinder and into thereturn fluid reservoir, and having means supplying fluid under pressureinto the said chamber, a slide latch valve movable transversely of thecylinder head and having transversely spaced axially disposed inlet andexhaust and reservoir relief ports complementary to and alternatelymovable out of and into alignment with the inlet and exhaust andreservoir relief ports in the cylinder head, said cylinder head and saidvalve having mating planar surfaces; a manually operable fluid actuatingpilot valve means actuating the slide latch valve from a closed positionwhereat the said inlet ports are out of alignment and the said exhaustand reservoir relief ports are in alignment, to an open position whereatthe said inlet ports are in alignment and the said exhaust and reservoirrelief ports are in alignment, to an open position whereat the saidinlet ports are in alignment and the said exhaust and reservoir reliefports are out of alignment; whereby fluid pressure stored in saidchamber discharges axially through said inlet ports when the slide latchvalve is in the open position and into the said cylinder to move thepiston percussively toward the said other end of the cylinder, andthrough said check valve charging said reservoir, and whereby fluiddischarged into the cylinder is exhausted axially through said exhaustports when the slide latch valve is in the closed position and thepiston is returned to the normally retracted position by fluid pressurefrom the return fluid reservoir applied into the other end of thecylinder and beneath the piston.
 26. The double acting percussivelyoperable cylinder and self-returning piston motor combined with theslide latch valve and manually operable means and return fluid reservoiras set forth in claim 25 wherein the cylinder head extends radially ofthe cylinder to overlie the return fluid reservoir with the reservoirrelief ports through the said head and slide latch valve opening fromthe return fluid reservoir to an exhaust port when the slide latch valveis in the closed position.
 27. The double acting percussively operablecylinder and self-returning piston motor combined with the slide latchvalve and manually operable means and return fluid reservoir as setforth in claim 25 wherein the cylinder head extends radially of thecylinder to overlie the return fluid reservoir with the reservoir reliefports through the said head and slide latch valve opening from thereturn fluid reservoir to an exhaust port when the slide latch valve isin the closed position, and wherein the manually operable fluidactuating pilot valve means includes a differential cylinder and pistonwith spaced interconnected large and small pistons exposed to fluidpressure within the storage chamber, the large piston operable in aclosed cylinder bore and the small piston operable in an exhaust bore,and a trigger valve operable in an exhaust bore, and a trigger valveoperable to alternately charge said closed cylinder bore with fluidpressure and to exhaust the same.
 28. The double acting actingpercussively operable cylinder and self-returning piston motor combinedwith the slide latch valve and manually operable means and return fluidreservoir as set forth in claim 25 wherein the cylinder head extendsradially of the cylinder to overlie the return fluid reservoir with thereservoir relief ports through the said head and slide latch valveopening from the return fluid reservoir to an exhaust port when theslide latch valve is in the closed position, and wherein the cylinderhead has a flat sealing face exposed within the fluid pressure storagechamber, wherein the slide latch valve overlies the sealing face and isheld slideably engaged thereupon by fluid pressure in said storagechamber, wherein the manually operable fluid actuating pilot valve meansincludes a differential cylinder and piston extending through the fluidpressure storage chamber and on an axis parallel to said flat sealingface and with spaced large and small pistons exposed to fluid pressurewithin the storage chamber, the large piston operable in a closedcylinder bore and the small piston operable in an exhaust bore, whereinthe last said piston operable in an exhaust bore, wherein the last saidpiston is telescopically coupled to the slide latch valve on an axisnormal to the plane of said flat sealing face to reciprocally positionthe same, and wherein a trigger valve is operable to alternately chargesaid closed cylinder bore with fluid pressure and to exhaust the same.